National carrier takes new route via Afghanistan, Azerbaijan for European destinations

10 March 2026 06:36 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 10 (Daily Mirror) - Following the closure of Middle Eastern airspace, SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, has adopted an alternative route through Afghanistan and Azerbaijan for its European destinations, an official said.

The airspace in the Middle East mostly remain closed due to the widening conflict that started with the US-Israeli attack on Iran. Iran has fired at US bases in the region, leading to the disruption of flight operations to and through the region.

Captain Daminda Rambukwella, the Director General of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer, told Daily Mirror that flight time to London, for example, had increased by one and a half hours because of the route change. He said the payload (the total weight of passengers, their baggage, and cargo carried by the aircraft that generates revenue) had to be reduced as a result.

He said only a limited number of non-scheduled flights are operated to the cities in the Middle East as a result of airspace closures. Only seven flights were scheduled for yesterday.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said that the airspace closure had impacted tourist arrivals.

Comments - 13

Sheena Tuesday, 10 March 2026 07:49 AM

Both are war zones. Pakistan attacking Afghanistan. Iran sending missiles to Azerbaijan. I guess its fine when you're flying at thirty five thousand feet above.

2 4

Puwakdanda Tuesday, 10 March 2026 04:38 PM

National Disaster.

1 1

Jude Tuesday, 10 March 2026 08:23 AM

New route or old route, SriLankan airlines losing in billions. Forget about the routes, ground the bloody eternally money losing airline!!

1 11

Jude Tuesday, 10 March 2026 08:25 AM

People it's our money Going down the tube in billions And billions. Hey people, Burn down the damn aircrafts.

4 4

Harsha Wijewardene Tuesday, 10 March 2026 08:58 AM

National disaster, Srisunken Drainlines a big drain on tax payers money. Burning cash, corrupt from top to bottom. Overstaffed with lazy political lackeys. Paradise for chubby hostesses.

2 10

M Fahim Tuesday, 10 March 2026 10:17 AM

Total weight of the luggage can be reduced. How about the weight of the passenger to reduce?? You mean to say the passenger has to follow kind of dieting system or some exercise if not weight reduction medication well in advance before booking the flight.??

2 1

Dr. Dee esquire Tuesday, 10 March 2026 01:14 PM

Absolutely! Some are so huge they need 1.5 seats. It’s worse in the US where the new budget seats are so slim. It’s so fortunate that those seat frames don’t split in two.

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Fatso Fahim Tuesday, 10 March 2026 02:45 PM

So, you are going on a diet?

0 0

Sirisena S K Tuesday, 10 March 2026 06:29 PM

Payload is a technical term used in commercial airline operations. Longer the distance you have to fly mean more fuel required for the trip resulting weight restrictions. I recon some airlines have already started weing passengers.

0 1

Nimal Tuesday, 10 March 2026 10:29 AM

Do you know that we could travel to all of these destinations by road if a short stretch of roadway were built between Thalaimannar and Rameswaram, connecting Sri Lanka and India? If built, this road would link Sri Lanka to Europe and China, significantly reducing transportation costs.

4 5

Nice try, but NO THANKS! Tuesday, 10 March 2026 01:58 PM

No connections to India! We must protect our borders and our sovereignty always. No annexation to other countries.

0 0

Remain without borders always. Tuesday, 10 March 2026 02:12 PM

Countries with borders have huge problems! We are blessed to be an island without bordering countries. So, don’t spoil our natural asset.

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Jeeves Tuesday, 10 March 2026 02:29 PM

All these negative comments! At least SL airlines is being pragmatic and trying to navigate around current problems. Also, it might be a viable solution for stranded passengers. This could be a way to recoup losses and prove to be a resourceful opportunity. No doubt, safety considerations will be monitored and routes adjusted. Hope it’s a success. Good luck to all for trying.

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